Daily log of my new 55 gallon South American Tank.

[lousybreed]

yay! i was hoping this thread would pick up again...
i come back and re-read it every time i'm starting a new tank - good reading! tough to put down! lol. I'm starting my first large tank in May (i've never had over 20 gallons and now i'm getting a 60! i haven't really started anything for it except researching renters insurance in case i do something...i don't know...typical for me?)
anyway, keep it up!
~ an adoring fan

Thats good to hear, I plan on starting this bad boy up very soon. the reason i started this thread is to help people with there first larger aquarium....Right now I am building a tropical fish pond......that is really taking up my time. you should check it out, it's kinda like this thread but for ponds..... It is in the DIY section, titled something like "log of building a tropical fish pond"....here are some drawings of the fuge lighting....they are really bad but will give you an idea

 

[lousybreed]

While I was at the "rock shop" which is a place where they sell gravel, stones, and rocks I found some really cool rock. The cost of the rock there was probably 1/10 of what you would pay at an aquarium store.....My wife told me to get the aquarium set up so I need to get moving on this. My pond project should be wrapping up shortly so I will spend more time on the aquairium.

Would you guys be leery of buying rock from a quarry? I assume that it is the same rock that aquarium rocks come from also so it shouldn't be a big deal??? They also have nice aquarium gravel for like 10 cents/lb......I will bring some vinegar along and if it doesn't fizz then I will probably buy that also!

 

[lousybreed]

By the way the tank is ready to go and I will probably fill it with water this week sometime.

 

[me_wee_todded]

cool
what are planning to stock with?

i read somwhere that you liked discus. Its a little too small for discus and plus they really really like plants.

how about you go the Oddball route and you stock it with an assortment of Polys

 

[lousybreed]

cool
what are planning to stock with?

i read somwhere that you liked discus. Its a little too small for discus and plus they really really like plants.

how about you go the Oddball route and you stock it with an assortment of Polys

Yeah the more I thought about discus and their requirements, I decided aginst them. Changing water 3 times a week is crazy. I am leaning more towards rainbow fish but I am also looking at the oddball route. Any suggestions of the top of your head for odd ball fish? I don't really like large fish because I hate cleaning up after them!:headbang2: :drool: :liar: :devil: erv: :welcome:

 

[chaibill]

Yeah the more I thought about discus and their requirements, I decided aginst them. Changing water 3 times a week is crazy. I am leaning more towards rainbow fish but I am also looking at the oddball route. Any suggestions of the top of your head for odd ball fish? I don't really like large fish because I hate cleaning up after them!:headbang2: :drool: :liar: :devil: erv: :welcome:

maybe a bunch of peacock gobys or killies, head standers, south american leaf fish thats a good one

 

[lousybreed]

maybe a bunch of peacock gobys or killies, head standers, south american leaf fish thats a good one

and they have to live in hard water with pH of 7.6.....the bay are water is kinda hard. I am not into playing chemist at every water change. I will look into the other ones besides the leaf fish.....oh yeah I am lazy so I dont want something that needs live fish.....

 

[lousybreed]

Lots of progress

Today I went out and bought some gravel and rocks. I went to a "rockery" which is basically a walmart for any type of stone you could ever want. I bought 100lbs of gravel and 55lbs of "cold canyon creek" rock for a grand total of $11. If I were to buy this at the pet store it would have cost easily cost $50 to $80. I had to scrub the rocks and wash the gravel but thats it.

I redesigned the overflow tube that goes from the aquarium to the refugium. It is WAY quieter. This is a good thing for a tank in the living room. I tried the halogen lights over the aquarium and its too dim. I will give it another try when I get some fish but it looks like I will be getting a flouresent strip light instead. I still need to do the following:

Redo the fuge lighting because my original design was way to dangerous (exposed wires make me nervous). I need a strip light to solve that problem.

More plant decor for the tank.

Another power filter

Plants for the fuge

And thats about it!

Enjoy the pics

 

[Mgamer20o0]

looks great

 

[lousybreed]

I dropped 4 rosy barbs in the tank over 2 weeks ago. Once the tank is done cycling it's go time! They are doing fine and the tank seems to be settling in nicely..